Spluttering and coughing water, Denethir crawls onto the shore and rolls onto his back noting the lateness of the day. "Last time I follow you down a well, Lusith", he croaks. Giving himself a few more seconds, he snaps his fingers, summoning his sprite from wherever it had been. He telepathically commands it to fly 70 feet straight up, and report what it sees.
The sprite reports that you are about 400 ft from southeast of the Mansion's southeast corner, from its vantage, it can see both groups of Orcs and Goblins roaming. It does not see any easy out of the cove. It notes that there are funny red man-rocks that it sees near the top of the near vertical wall.
"About 400m southeast of the mansion, my friend, and naught but wet clothes to show for it. We are sheltered here, for now, but still lacking a boat... and treasure, for that matter, although I fear the lower the sun gets in the sky, the less we should be worrying about riches and more about our own survival."
Denethir looks at the red rock brought to him by his sprite for a second, before tossing it to the ground.
The brick is an old piece of red brick. The only place you have seen this type of brick on the island was in walls in the catacombs. Judging by the erosion, it has been exposed for many years and was made, about 70 years ago.
You are in the cove below. The mansion is 400+ to the northwest of the yellow arrow. It is a steep 40' 50' climb from the small rock beach to the top (say about 30 degrees), except in the area indicated in red. This area is nearly vertical, and it is from here that the sprite retrieved the piece of brick.
This particular brick material/construction is the same as found in the catacombs, but not like anything in the mansion.
"Ruki, Denethir, stay close. Keep an eye out for scouts." With (hopefully) stealthy steps, Eurim navigates the rocky shore towards the base of the vertical brick wall.
Denethir sends his sprite up again towards the edge of the cliff to monitor the orc and goblin activity, while he follows close behind the dwarf in front of him.
Arriving at the base of the vertical rock wall, it is easy to see at this close distance that the rock is different from rock on either side of the area. Although here at the base, there is no sign of the brick that the Sprite retrieved from further up the slope.
"Stones don't walk, Denethir. These were put here. I think your little friend may have discovered the other side of the blocked exit. Maybe that old man wasn't so crazy after all."
Eurim hugs the wall and tries to get a feel for it, searching for little telltale marks of craftmanship that might allude to a catch, a keyhole, or even just some place to open up a hole worn through by the passing years.
Hoping the cliches about dwarven knowledge of stone and rock are true, the half-elf waits for Eurim to complete his search. "If you don't find anything, I could always blast it, but I suspect that might attract unwanted attention."
"It's too well made - not even the tides have worn it away. But perhaps you are on to something. If I'm right, and this is the exit by sea that the old man was talking about, then it should be set to collapse from the inside, once the ship is ready to sail away. One of your blasts might weaken the structure of the whole wall and send whatever lies behind it - an us - floating out into the harbor. The noise might well alert our foes, but perhaps we can be more subtle..."
Removing and studying the sharp tip of the enchanted dagger, Eurim begins to gently carve into a crease or crack in the rock wall, trying to stifle any noise he creates.
The sound of the pounding surf outside of the cove, as well as the boom of thunder hides any sound. The wall is indeed a construct of man, which has been thinly mortared in place. The mortar is gone and the shapes of the stones now hold it in place. Prying between the stones, it is easy to see that an un-mortared, red brick wall stands behind the stones.
Denethir
Spluttering and coughing water, Denethir crawls onto the shore and rolls onto his back noting the lateness of the day. "Last time I follow you down a well, Lusith", he croaks. Giving himself a few more seconds, he snaps his fingers, summoning his sprite from wherever it had been. He telepathically commands it to fly 70 feet straight up, and report what it sees.
Perception: 18
Denethir
The sprite reports that you are about 400 ft from southeast of the Mansion's southeast corner, from its vantage, it can see both groups of Orcs and Goblins roaming. It does not see any easy out of the cove. It notes that there are funny red man-rocks that it sees near the top of the near vertical wall.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Frowning at the sprite’s report, Denethir commands it to turn invisible and fly closer to the red man-rocks to examine them.
Investigation: 11
The sprite reports that it is a rock, like a long square and returns with a piece of red brick.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Eurim splashes out of the water, grumbling and wringing water out from his beard.
"Lucky us - that should get the goblins off our trail for a little while. Any idea where we are? Denethir, I see you. Are there others?"
Denethir
"About 400m southeast of the mansion, my friend, and naught but wet clothes to show for it. We are sheltered here, for now, but still lacking a boat... and treasure, for that matter, although I fear the lower the sun gets in the sky, the less we should be worrying about riches and more about our own survival."
Denethir looks at the red rock brought to him by his sprite for a second, before tossing it to the ground.
"Couldn't agree more. The whole venture with that madman was bad business. Now, let's see. Ah! There you are, Ruki!"
Shivering and sopping wet, Eurim helps Ruki out of the water. "It's all right now, little one." Eurim says, with surprising tenderness.
He glances over to the red rock. "Hmm. Mind if I take a closer look?"
Investigation: 11
History on the origin of this odd rock: 24
(Oh wow! This rock must me named after me or something!)
The brick is an old piece of red brick. The only place you have seen this type of brick on the island was in walls in the catacombs. Judging by the erosion, it has been exposed for many years and was made, about 70 years ago.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
(So, the same red brick was used in the catacombs as at the top of the outer mansion wall? And we still have no direct way out of the cove, yes?)
You are in the cove below. The mansion is 400+ to the northwest of the yellow arrow. It is a steep 40' 50' climb from the small rock beach to the top (say about 30 degrees), except in the area indicated in red. This area is nearly vertical, and it is from here that the sprite retrieved the piece of brick.
This particular brick material/construction is the same as found in the catacombs, but not like anything in the mansion.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
"Ruki, Denethir, stay close. Keep an eye out for scouts." With (hopefully) stealthy steps, Eurim navigates the rocky shore towards the base of the vertical brick wall.
Stealth: 20
Denethir sends his sprite up again towards the edge of the cliff to monitor the orc and goblin activity, while he follows close behind the dwarf in front of him.
Sprite Perception: 7
Denethir Stealth: 13
Arriving at the base of the vertical rock wall, it is easy to see at this close distance that the rock is different from rock on either side of the area. Although here at the base, there is no sign of the brick that the Sprite retrieved from further up the slope.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
"What are you thinking, Eurim?" Denethir keeps an eye on his sprite while examining the wall alongside the dwarf.
"Stones don't walk, Denethir. These were put here. I think your little friend may have discovered the other side of the blocked exit. Maybe that old man wasn't so crazy after all."
Eurim hugs the wall and tries to get a feel for it, searching for little telltale marks of craftmanship that might allude to a catch, a keyhole, or even just some place to open up a hole worn through by the passing years.
Investigation: 6
Hoping the cliches about dwarven knowledge of stone and rock are true, the half-elf waits for Eurim to complete his search. "If you don't find anything, I could always blast it, but I suspect that might attract unwanted attention."
"It's too well made - not even the tides have worn it away. But perhaps you are on to something. If I'm right, and this is the exit by sea that the old man was talking about, then it should be set to collapse from the inside, once the ship is ready to sail away. One of your blasts might weaken the structure of the whole wall and send whatever lies behind it - an us - floating out into the harbor. The noise might well alert our foes, but perhaps we can be more subtle..."
Removing and studying the sharp tip of the enchanted dagger, Eurim begins to gently carve into a crease or crack in the rock wall, trying to stifle any noise he creates.
The sound of the pounding surf outside of the cove, as well as the boom of thunder hides any sound. The wall is indeed a construct of man, which has been thinly mortared in place. The mortar is gone and the shapes of the stones now hold it in place. Prying between the stones, it is easy to see that an un-mortared, red brick wall stands behind the stones.
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Prying check? (str): 2